Abstract

The Reverend John West, author of The History of Tasmania,writing in 1852, made these observations (p. 66):'The landing of settlers, direct from Great Britain, was animportant event: their efforts were experiments, and their achievements were prophetic. The political philosopher may trace, intheir errors, trials, and successes, the lessons afforded by experiencefor the instruction of nations. The rapid advance ofcivilization tends to underrate the first efforts of our predecessors.